Tentative deal reached to end strike at Alberta Superstores

Clara Ho, Calgary Herald10.06.2013

Colleen Ealey uses a makeshift bullhorn, cobbled together with duct tape and cardboard, to pass instructions to her fellow strikers on the Superstore picket line in Sunridge on Monday. The union members vote on a tentative contract Tuesday.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Colleen Ealey uses a makeshift bullhorn, cobbled together with duct tape and cardboard, to pass instructions to her fellow strikers on the Superstore picket line in Sunridge on Monday. The union members vote on a tentative contract Tuesday.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Employees of Real Canadian Superstores and Liquorstores are slated to vote on a tentative deal Tuesday, just days after picket lines formed in front of stores across the province.

Calgary union members will vote at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, at 120 9th Ave S.E., in exhibition hall E from 1 to 9 p.m.

The tentative deal was reached at about 4 a.m. Monday, after the two sides engaged in round-the-clock negotiations, which started Thursday.

“The new agreement will present employees with a number of significant improvements over and above the company’s last offer. We strongly believe that these improvements will bring new hope to employment at Superstores & Liquorstores,” the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 said on its Facebook page Monday, adding the negotiating committee unanimously recommends the settlement.

Loblaw Companies — Canada’s largest food retailer — also indicated in a statement it was “pleased” a tentative deal had been reached, and said its 55 Superstores and Liquorstores across Alberta remain open.

No details were offered.

Union spokeswoman Christine McMeckan had said earlier the grocery chain was refusing to budge on key issues such as employee hours and new-hire pay.

Organizers complained that the starting hourly wage for some employees is $11.65, and it takes 4,500 hours to get to the top wage of $20.90. Part-time employees get a maximum of 20 hours per week, meaning it could take up to eight years to reach the top wage bracket.

Employees on Monday were still on strike, which began the day before at 12:01 a.m., and will keep doing so until the deal has been ratified.

“As details of the tentative agreement are finalized and a plan for a smooth return to the stores is considered, it is important that Loblaw continue to understand that we are committed to bargaining strong together until a new deal is finalized,” the union statement read.

At the Sunridge Superstore in northeast Calgary, a few dozen workers were positioned in front of the store entrance and at parking lot entrances, rushing up to shoppers to encourage them not to patronize the grocery giant. Spirits were high as picketers cheered when they received honks of support from passing vehicles, and chatted passionately with customers coming onto the premises.

Picketers held a large banner at the front door that read: “Stand up to fairness and stay away! If you go into this store, see a video of yourself on superscab.ca,” which eclipsed a stand of signs indicating the store was open for business.

“The negotiations are not done yet,” said one worker, when asked how she felt about the tentative deal. “If you shop here, you support the company. If you don’t shop here, you support us.”

Shopper Huong Huynh earned applause from the picket line when she hopped back into her car and drove off. She had come to the Superstore to pick up some medical supplies, but changed her mind when she learned about the strike.

“I think it’s very important for employers to treat their employees fairy,” Huynh said, explaining her decision.

But customer Rachelle Peachment, accompanied by her two young children, said the strike did not convince her to take her business elsewhere.

“They told me they needed money for their families,” Peachment said as she loaded groceries into her van. “I told them this is one of the cheapest places to shop for my family and I’m not going to change my budget just because they decided to strike.”

Loblaw Companies said it had reached tentative agreements with union leaders in Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, respectively.

— With files from the Edmonton Journal

cho@calgaryherald.com

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.